Effect of Cold-Plasma-Treated Phosphate Solution to Substitute Partial Nitrite on the Color, Texture, and Flavor of Smoked Sausage

There are several alternative technologies to nitrite use in meat products, including cold plasma. In this study, a cold-plasma-treated phosphate solution was added to smoked sausage, as a new ingredient. Subsequently, the color, texture, and flavor of the samples were analyzed. The results showed that, compared with nitrite (0.075 g/kg nitrite added to sausage), the addition of 30~90% nitrite and cold-plasma-treated phosphate solution had no significant effect on the a* value or the relative content of oxygenated myoglobin (p > 0.05). The amount of residual nitrite in the smoked sausage prepared with the addition of 30~70% nitrite and cold-plasma-treated phosphate solution was significantly lower than that of the nitrite-treated group. The addition of nitrite combined with cold-plasma-treated phosphate solution had no significant effects on the texture (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and resilience) or the sensory evaluation of the smoked sausage. A total of 69 volatile compounds were detected, and 20 of them had VIP (Variable Importance Plot) scores higher than one. In conclusion, cold plasma treatment represents a potential technology to partially substitute nitrite. This study provides new methods for the application of this nitrite substitute.